The objectives of this Commission are mainly to promote gender equality and freedom from discrimination.

Authority

Though a successor Commission, the National Gender and Equality Commission, NGEC, is fully independent and inherits the status and powers of its parent Commission (the KNHREC) as outlined in Chapter 15 - Commissions and Independent Offices of the Constitution of Kenya 2010. Excerpts from Article 59 of Chapter 4 - The Bill of Rights, Part 5 - The Kenya National Human Rights And Equality Commission:

59. (5) If Parliament enacts legislation restructuring the Commission under clause (4)–– ....... (b) each of the successor commissions shall have powers equivalent to the powers of the Commission under this Article; and (c) each successor commission shall be a commission within the meaning of Chapter Fifteen, and shall have the status and powers of a commission under that Chapter.

As a Commission, the NGEC is empowered by Article 252 to initiate investigations based on suspicions or claims of discrimination, to have the authority of a Court to summon a witness in the course of such investigations, and to act as a peace-maker to right any wrongs and facilitate amends. Chapter 15 - Commissions and Independent Offices, excerpts:

252. (1) Each commission, and each holder of an independent office— (a) may conduct investigations on its own initiative or on a complaint made by a member of the public;(3) The following commissions and independent offices have the power to issue a summons to a witness to assist for the purposes of its investigations— (a) the Kenya National Human Rights and Equality Commission; (1) Each commission, and each holder of an independent office— (b) has the powers necessary for conciliation, mediation and negotiation;